School of Earth Sciences

How does our planet work?

Earth Scientists focus their activities on the origin and evolution of Earth and other planets in our solar system. Our researchers are excited by diverse questions about the formation of Earth’s continental crust over the last 4.5 billion years, the history of atmospheres and oceans, the record of biotic evolution from the early Earth to modern day, and the formation of important resources such as mineral deposits, petroleum and groundwater.

The geological and fossil record, together with our modern environments, are a natural laboratory to understand the large scale tectonic and climatic changes that have occurred through Earth’s long history.

We also work with datasets that range in scale from global to microscopic, and even smaller using sophisticated instruments to examine Earth materials at nanoscale! Understanding how our planet has evolved through many extreme changes in the geological past, provides a scientific basis for predicting future environmental changes.